District Attorney determines that use of deadly force was justified in the death of Kendrell Hall
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo completed his review of the use of deadly force that resulted in the death of Kendrell T. Hall on June 9, 2024. That review was limited to whether the actions of the officers involved violated the criminal law. This office does not examine whether the use of force was otherwise proper, including whether it violated any department policy or created non-criminal liability, as such an inquiry would be beyond the prosecutorial function.
The Criminal Investigation Division of the District Attorney’s Office conducted a comprehensive investigation. That inquiry produced comprehensive reports and detailed interviews of the officers who were present at the scene and all available material witnesses. It also included review of video footage of the incident, radio recordings, and photographs.
In the early morning hours of June 9, 2024, Harrisburg Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania State Capitol Police officers responded to a call of shots fired around 2nd and Pine Streets. The suspect fled east on Pine Street towards the Capitol and then south towards State Street. On State Street, a uniformed Harrisburg officer saw the suspect, exited his vehicle, and ordered him to stop. Hall disregarded the order and fled. The Harrisburg officer used his taser twice, but it was not effective because both prongs did not connect.
A Capitol Police officer with his K9 partner, Rex, joined the Harrisburg officer in the chase. They chased Hall down Susquehanna Street to South Street. During his flight, Hall was reaching towards his waist area as he ran. At Susquehanna and South Street, Hall drew a pistol with an extended magazine and pointed it back at the officers without firing. The Harrisburg officer verbally identified himself as a police officer and gave multiple oral commands for Hall to stop.
The suspect then moved east towards 3rd Street. The Capitol Police officer commanded Rex to seize Hall, using the foreign language Rex was trained upon. Some listening to the video footage mistakenly interpreted these commands as instructions to fire on Hall. As the K9 approached, Hall fired upon Rex wounding him. The shot that Hall fired wounding Rex was close to the two officers. At that point, after Hall fired, the Harrisburg Police officer fired several shots and Hall continued to flee.
The two officers continued their chase. In his subsequent flight, Hall ran into an alcove to the rear of 216-220 Pine Street. There, he defied orders to surrender and raised his firearm to fire upon the officers. While they heard gunfire, the officers then fired upon Hall resulting in four gunshot wounds and causing his death. The officers stopped firing when the shots ended the threat.
The firearm that Hall used had an extended magazine and a “Glock switch” which allowed the pistol to discharge automatic fire. The device caused the firearm to jam as Hall discharged it in the alcove. Hall pointed this firearm at the officers while in the alcove and fired. This act is captured on bodycam. Not knowing that Hall’s firearm was jammed, the officers fired upon him until the threat was eliminated
Hall used a Glock 9mm pistol during the shooting incident on June 9, 2024. This appears to be his weapon of choice. On February 29, 2020, police served a search warrant upon the Hall’s home. In his bedroom, they found marijuana, packaging material, a scale, and a Glock 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number. In that case, CP-22-CR-0001536-2020, Hall pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, unlawful possession of a firearm arm by a person with a prior juvenile adjudication for a felony, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. On August 31, 2020, police arrested Hall while he was in unlawful possession of a loaded Glock 9mm pistol. In that case, CP-22-CR-0000038-2021, Hall pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a firearm during an emergency, and unlawful possession of a firearm arm by a person with a prior juvenile adjudication for a felony.
Hall had a smartphone in his possession at the time of the shooting. During the investigation, forensic examination of the smartphone revealed numerous videos of the Glock pistol with the switch and extended magazine that Hall used on June 9, 2024. In some of the videos, Hall’s face is visible as he handles the distinctive pistol which is tan in color with a red Glock switch. These include the below video clips.
Hall’s attire was consistent with an intent to commit a felonious act. He was wearing a black mask on his face. It was warm such that wearing a mask would be suspicious—it was 65 degrees in the middle of the night. Hall had fired upon and shot Rex, the police K9. The bullet remains lodged in Rex. I reviewed Rex’s treatment records including X-rays. The bullet lodged in Rex, which is clearly visible on the X-ray, is consistent with the ammunition in Hall’s firearm. It is inconsistent with the projectiles used by the police officers involved in the incident. Indisputably, Hall shot Rex.
Blood testing revealed that Hall had Delta-9 THC in his blood. The tests revealed a level of 17 ng/ml of Delta-9 THC, the active ingredient, and 62 ng/ml of Delta-9 Carboxy THC. Delta-9 THC is the principle psychoactive ingredient of marijuana/hashish. This could have affected his judgment regarding the use of deadly force. At the time of the fatal shooting, Hall was on state parole for unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property, and a felony drug offense. His parole was not due to end until April 2, 2025. His mere possession of a firearm constituted a felony of the first degree and was a violation of the conditions of his parole. This provided a motive for him to use deadly force to avoid arrest.
Independent, non-governmental witnesses corroborated the accounts of the police officers. Specifically, two earwitnesses were in an apartment next to the alley where the shooting occurred. They heard the officers repeatedly give the verbal commands, “get on the ground”, and “drop the gun”, before any shots were fired. Immediately, after the shots, they heard the officers attempting life-saving measures upon Hall.
Under 18 Pa. C.S. §§ 505, 506 & 508, the use of deadly force by the officers was justified. They believed that Hall presented an immediate threat to themselves and others if deadly force was not used. Based upon the circumstances, this conclusion was reasonable. Both officers were very fortunate. Hall’s pistol was set to discharge as an automatic weapon when it jammed upon firing in the alley. If it had not jammed, there is a fair probability that the officers would have been wounded or killed.
District Attorney Chardo contacted the family of Kendrell Hall and related the justification determination. He conveyed his condolences for the loss the family must be experiencing with the death of Kendrell Hall.
Location
Harrisburg, PA 17101
